Pakistan has announced a special anti-polio campaign to tackle the spread of the virus, with authorities planning to vaccinate nearly 19 million children across selected districts later this month, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.
According to the National Emergency Operations Centre, the campaign will run from 18 to 24 May in 79 high-risk districts. The effort will be carried out simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of a coordinated regional response.
Officials said around 6.19 million children will be vaccinated in 10 districts of Punjab, while 5.79 million children will receive drops in 20 districts of Sindh.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the campaign will cover 4.61 million children in 23 districts, and in Balochistan, nearly 1.99 million children will be targeted in 25 districts. In Islamabad, about 450,000 children are expected to receive the vaccine.
Health authorities stressed that protecting children from polio is a shared national responsibility. They urged parents to cooperate fully with vaccination teams and ensure their children receive the drops.
Officials also called on the public to welcome polio workers and support ongoing efforts aimed at the complete eradication of the disease from the country.
Reporter: Babar Shehzad Turk